Low-collateral damage directed fragmentation munition

Abstract

A directed munition has a non-fragmentation casing, and an explosive within the casing that is configured to propel fragments out an opening of the casing when the explosive is detonated. The casing may be made of a material that does not produce lethal or injurious fragments when the explosive is detonated. The explosive may include an insensitive explosive portion that creates the shape of an explosive front, and a secondary explosive containing a more energetic explosive, which is closer to the fragments than the insensitive explosive portion. There may be more of the insensitive explosive than the relatively energetic explosive.

1 . A directed munition comprising:
 a casing;   an explosive within the casing; and   fragments operatively coupled to the explosive, to be directed out of a front opening of the casing when the explosive is detonated;   wherein the explosive includes an insensitive explosive portion containing an insensitive explosive, and an energetic explosive portion that contains a relatively sensitive explosive that is more energetic than the insensitive explosive; and   wherein the energetic explosive portion is closer to the fragments than the insensitive explosive portion.   
     
     
         2 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , wherein the insensitive explosive portion has a larger circumferential surface area than the energetic explosive portion. 
     
     
         3 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , wherein
 at least part of the explosive has a conical shape, with a wider end of the explosive that is part of the energetic explosive portion, facing toward the opening of the casing.   
     
     
         4 . The directed munition of  claim 3 , wherein the insensitive explosive has a conical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The directed munition of  claim 3 , wherein the energetic explosive portion has a disk shape. 
     
     
         6 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , wherein the insensitive explosive has a figure of insensitivity that is less than the figure of insensitivity of the relatively energetic explosive. 
     
     
         7 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is a non-fragmentation casing that is mostly pulverized upon detonation of the explosive. 
     
     
         8 . The directed munition of  claim 7 , wherein the casing is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The directed munition of  claim 7 , wherein the casing is made of a composite material. 
     
     
         10 . The directed munition of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a ring at least partially within the casing;   wherein the ring is operatively coupled to the fragments to control spread of the fragments out of the opening, when the explosive is detonated.   
     
     
         11 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , further comprising a fragment liner between the energetic explosive portion and the fragments. 
     
     
         12 . The directed munition of  claim 1 , further comprising a detonator operatively coupled to the insensitive explosive portion, to detonate the insensitive explosive portion as a primary explosive.